Global Sports Tower construction has reached another major procurement milestone after leading contractors submitted their final commercial offers for the landmark sports development in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project now moves into the final bid evaluation stage before the Sports Boulevard Foundation awards the main construction contract.
As one of the flagship developments within the Sports Boulevard masterplan, the estimated $530 million tower will redefine sports infrastructure by combining elite training facilities, public recreation spaces, and record-breaking attractions inside a single vertical destination.
The submission of final offers follows months of technical evaluations and commercial negotiations. According to MEED, the client requested final prices after reviewing the initial bids, signaling that procurement has entered its concluding phase. Contract award is expected once the foundation completes its financial and technical assessment.
Global Sports Tower construction advances toward contract award
The Global Sports Tower will stand approximately 130 meters high in Riyadh’s Athletics District. It forms a central attraction within the wider Sports Boulevard development, one of Saudi Arabia’s flagship urban transformation programs under Vision 2030.
Rather than serving only professional athletes, the building will accommodate recreational users, families, visitors, and sports enthusiasts throughout the year. The mixed-use sports destination will feature more than 30 indoor sports facilities designed for training, competition, fitness, and entertainment.
One of its standout attractions will be the world’s tallest indoor climbing wall, rising approximately 98 meters inside the tower. The building will also feature a suspended 250-metre running track that circles the upper levels, creating a unique training environment with panoramic city views.
The project occupies about 84,000 square meters of gross floor area. Designers have integrated multiple sports disciplines into one structure, supporting Saudi Arabia’s strategy of increasing community participation in physical activity while attracting international sporting events.
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Global Sports Tower construction strengthens Sports Boulevard development
The tower represents one element of the much larger Sports Boulevard program stretching more than 135 kilometers across Riyadh. Once completed, the corridor will become one of the world’s longest urban parks, linking major districts through green spaces, cycling routes, pedestrian paths, sports facilities, and cultural destinations.
Sports Boulevard also includes the Centre for Cinematic Arts, entertainment venues, public parks, residential developments, retail areas, and a 2,000-seat amphitheater. Altogether, the masterplan will deliver approximately 4.4 million square meters of public realm alongside more than 2.3 million square meters of mixed-use commercial, residential, and retail developments.
The Global Sports Tower plays a strategic role within this wider transformation because it combines iconic architecture with year-round sporting activities. Consequently, the project supports Saudi Arabia’s objectives of improving urban quality of life, expanding tourism, diversifying the economy, and encouraging healthier lifestyles.
Meanwhile, the Sports Boulevard Foundation continues tendering additional infrastructure and consultancy packages across the masterplan, demonstrating steady progress on several construction fronts. Recent procurement activities include project management consultancy services and supporting road infrastructure packages, indicating continued momentum across the development.
Industry observers now expect the foundation to announce the preferred contractor after completing commercial evaluations and securing final internal approvals. Once awarded, construction will begin on one of Saudi Arabia’s most distinctive sports buildings, adding another landmark to Riyadh’s rapidly evolving skyline.
Saudi Arabia continues to expand its portfolio of world-class sports infrastructure through projects that support Vision 2030. While the Global Sports Tower will introduce a landmark vertical sports destination in Riyadh, the Kingdom has already demonstrated its commitment to community-focused facilities with the SFA multipurpose sports facility in Dammam, which provides year-round indoor sports and wellness spaces for residents. Together, the developments highlight Saudi Arabia’s strategy of combining elite sporting venues with accessible community infrastructure to encourage wider participation in physical activity.
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Project fact sheet
Project: Global Sports Tower
Focus: Multi-sport vertical sports facility
Estimated value: Approximately $530 million
Location: Athletics District, Sports Boulevard, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Status: Final contractor offers submitted; contract award pending
Client: Sports Boulevard Foundation
Height: Approximately 130 meters
Gross floor area: Approximately 84,000 square meters
Sports facilities: More than 30
Signature features:
- World’s tallest indoor climbing wall (98 meters)
- 250-metre suspended running track
- Indoor sports training and recreation facilities
- Public fitness and entertainment spaces
Development program: Sports Boulevard masterplan
Sports Boulevard length: More than 135 kilometers
Vision alignment: Saudi Vision 2030
Primary objective: Promote sports participation, tourism, and healthier urban lifestyles while creating a global sporting landmark.
Project team
Project owner: Sports Boulevard Foundation
Masterplan sponsor: Government of Saudi Arabia
Program: Sports Boulevard Development
Project location: Athletics District, Riyadh
Architectural concept: Approved by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2024
Main construction contractor: To be appointed following final bid evaluation
Project management consultant: Separate PMC procurement progressing
Future operators: Sports Boulevard Foundation and appointed facilities management partners
End users: Professional athletes, residents, visitors, schools, sports federations, and recreational users.
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